Cyndi Rickards

Cyndi Rickards, EdD, is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies at Drexel University. With over a decade of experience in criminal justice administration, her research focuses on racial disparities in juvenile justice, 21st-century skills development through democratic engagement, and technology-enhanced educational tools. She teaches innovative courses within the Philadelphia Prison System, co-developed the UConnect urban extension center, and integrates community-based learning across disciplines.

Education:

• EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy, Drexel University (2015)
• MS in Criminal Justice, Saint Joseph's University (1998)

Research Interests: Dr. Rickards explores racial disparities in criminal justice systems, the role of technology in education (e.g., ePortfolios), and collaborative learning models like the Inside-Out course. Her work emphasizes civic engagement, correctional mental health ethics, and interdisciplinary approaches to public health and law enforcement.

Key Contributions: She co-founded UConnect to improve urban social service access and pioneered SIM City-based community engagement tools. Recent work includes mapping historical injustice in criminology education and fostering police-citizen dialogue through 21st-century training models.

Advising & Grants: While no formal advisees are listed, her courses engage incarcerated and Drexel students collaboratively. Grants and funding sources are not explicitly detailed in the provided materials.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Drexel’s Lindy Center for Civic Engagement and leads projects at UConnect, focusing on urban extension and community partnerships.